Snooze on the street for homeless youth

Witnessing the joy of buyers finding their dream home is only one aspect of the real estate industry for Gordon Macdonald.

READY TO SLEEP: Gordon Macdonald is helping to organise a Real Estate Sleep Out to raise funds for Youth Off The Streets. Picture: Warren Lynam

WITNESSING the joy of buyers finding their dream home is only one aspect of the real estate industry for Gordon Macdonald.

The Auction Group director is also exposed to the heartbreaking reality for thousands of young people living on the Coast.

"We put people into houses every day but the other side of that is people who don't have one,” Mr Macdonald said.

On any given night in Australia, more than 40,000 youths brave the streets without a place of safety and warmth.

Yet Mr Macdonald and the Coast's real estate professionals are out to ensure the "dire situation” for our most vulnerable comes to an end.

He, along with many others, will be roughing it on the Mooloolaba Esplanade for one night with a cardboard box and beanie in hand to raise funds for charity Youth Off The Streets.

Bringing light to the homelessness crisis is an important contribution for those in the real estate industry, Mr Macdonald said.

"On the Sunshine Coast you may not see it, but it's actually a really prevalent issue,” he said.

"I want to get the whole real estate industry out there. Builders, accountants, property people, real estate agents...I'd love for them to see this as an important thing to do.”

Gaining a glimpse into the lives of disadvantaged youth is "very humbling” for Mr Macdonald.

"Although we get to go home after the event, there are still kids living on the street doing the best with what they have, which is very little,” he said.

Youth Off The Streets deputy CEO Lex Lutherborrow said this event would help increase awareness of homelessness.

"We sometimes lose sight or don't have a high enough profile of what is happening every day,” she said.

"We accept it now and it's not so significant, so anything that draws attention to the issue is great. We need more of it.”

The Real Estate Sleep Out will begin on August 19 from 6.30pm at Mooloolaba Esplanade's The Loo With a View.

Head to www.realestatesleepout.com.au/ for more information and to register.